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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
I just wanted to say I tried this out yesterday, only my 2nd day riding, and it's amazing how smooth it really is. It did take a few minutes to get comfortable, and I did miss a couple shifts when I started bc I was clumsy (didn't preload enough), but after the first couple minutes it just seemed natural. The shifts are definitely quicker and smoother, and honestly it's nice not having to pull the clutch in as much. The bike really seemed to take well to it. It didn't have that dead feeling I was getting when shifting normally (which I'm sure gets better with practice).
Just wanted to give some feedback, and let new riders know it's not as tricky as it may sound. Just don't try to force the shift. If it doesn't feel right, you either aren't preloading enough or are coming off the throttle properly. And you don't need to be accelerating hard, either. I did all my shifting going normal side road speeds and accelerating normally.
Great.. second day riding, on a 05 ZX6R, and clutchless shifting. Honestly I bet you will crash soon.
What makes you say that? You know nothing of how I ride, or who I am. If you've read any of my other posts, it talks about taking it very slow, practicing in parking lots, only being on very quiet side roads. As for my choice of bike, that's my choice. I know how powerful it is, but it's what I wanted and I got a hell of a deal on it.
And what does clutchless upshift have to do with crashing? I'm not trying to race around, or shift quicker so I can accelerate faster like a squid. I'm saying that while riding around like normal, I personally found it very smooth. I still use the clutch sometimes, and always clutch going down, but I found riding to be better all around using this technique.
If you don't have something intelligent to say, keep your mouth shut
It works well and it is very smooth on the 636. Before attempting this as routine, please learn and practice how to do it normally. It can/will save you in a pinch.
On an 05 you have a slipper clutch and you can do it down too, its not as easy, and its not as smooth. Same as above, only far more likely to cause a problem, so learn the right way, then practice the hard way.
Get some miles under you and you should be fine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheTon
Great.. second day riding, on a 05 ZX6R, and clutchless shifting. Honestly I bet you will crash soon.
It works well and it is very smooth on the 636. Before attempting this as routine, please learn and practice how to do it normally. It can/will save you in a pinch.
On an 05 you have a slipper clutch and you can do it down too, its not as easy, and its not as smooth. Same as above, only far more likely to cause a problem, so learn the right way, then practice the hard way.
Get some miles under you and you should be fine.
Why post if you have nothing of value to add?
Friigg - Thanks for the post. Good point mentioning the slippy clutch on the zx6r. I forgot to bring that up.
I actually did downshift once w/o it, sort of accidentially. I was at a low speed and going to downshift anyway, and just hit the shifter before the clutch. It is not something I would ever do as routine, but it was good to feel and see that it can happen. It was not bad, but again I was at a very low RPM, so it didn't do nearly as much as if I were at higher speeds/rpms.
I do still practice shifting normal, and know that both are essential. I do plan to keep working on normal shifting as well, but will probably alternate between the two given the riding conditions.
Yes, it is possible to get smooth with clutchless upshifts, but they do take a toll on the gears and shift dogs. Maybe not right away, but I've heard of way too many riders who end up with $$$ repairs as a result after 15-20k miles. Otherwise, a bike's transmission should go over 100k. You don't need to pull the clutch lever all the way for a "normal" upshift. Try half or even a third of the way as a compromise. The clutch is there for a reason.
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Never out-ride your ability to react (even stop) within the distance you can see (at least on the street).
Yes, it is possible to get smooth with clutchless upshifts, but they do take a toll on the gears and shift dogs. Maybe not right away, but I've heard of way too many riders who end up with $$$ repairs as a result after 15-20k miles. Otherwise, a bike's transmission should go over 100k. You don't need to pull the clutch lever all the way for a "normal" upshift. Try half or even a third of the way as a compromise. The clutch is there for a reason.
I thought of trying a more partial engagement, but I didn't yet. I didn't know if that would be worse. I'll give it a shot.
Do you ever partially engage for downshifts? I've fully engaged the clutch both up and down each time I use it to shift.
I thought of trying a more partial engagement, but I didn't yet. I didn't know if that would be worse. I'll give it a shot.
Do you ever partially engage for downshifts? I've fully engaged the clutch both up and down each time I use it to shift.
As was said before, get comfortable and smooth with both up and downshifting using the clutch. Yes, a partial engagement will work on a downshift if you match revs well. What needs to happen for smooth shifting and less wear on the transmission is to take most/some of the pressure off while shifting. It all depends on the situation. If accelerating hard, that's one scenario. If braking/downshifting hard, that's another. If gradually slowing/stopping for a light ahead, that's another.
Practice is the key.
__________________ Moderator - Help me fix it and riders' gear. Send me a PM with questions, suggestions, or issues.
Never out-ride your ability to react (even stop) within the distance you can see (at least on the street).
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hm...
to be honest, I've never done clutchless shifting before, always partial...
for some reason it just doesn't seem like it's the "right" thing to do to my bike,
but i guess i should try it one of these days...
oh..
hey ray! did you go to GP?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasonn
First off you're Hawt, then there's that bad ass pic of you with the gun in your AV. And you've got a Bad ass bike too! So I'm happy to announce that:
BADLEESTA is born!!!
Thanks jasonn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maichena
Twist my throttle, hear the roar, that's when I feel my spirit soar
Quote:
Originally Posted by FZ1-KEP
Its hard to make things foolproof, cause idiots are so resourceful.
The reason he said you’re going to crash is because you bought a racing bike as your first bike, and you’re not focusing on proper technique. First, as other have said, learn the clutch first. Second, I can’t believe nobody has said this. Don’t preload the shifter, up or downshifts. Third, don’t cluchless downshift. It’s difficult for club racers with years of experience to do it without causing havoc on the tranny. Learn the cluch, use it, and love it.
The reason he said you’re going to crash is because you bought a racing bike as your first bike, and you’re not focusing on proper technique. First, as other have said, learn the clutch first. Second, I can’t believe nobody has said this. Don’t preload the shifter, up or downshifts. Third, don’t cluchless downshift. It’s difficult for club racers with years of experience to do it without causing havoc on the tranny. Learn the cluch, use it, and love it.
Every thing I've ever read on clutchless shifting says to preload the shifter. I'm not putting heavy force on it, but there's a little. It doesn't take much to shift in general. I don't think you can shift w/o clutch w/o preloading. I could be wrong.
And I never plan to downshift w/o it. Sorry if my post sounded like I was saying otherwise.
One thing I learned with my car...is that learning to shift without a clutch is a good thing to learn in case something goes wrong. This came in very beneficial when my slave cylinder blew out and I had to drive home from the Sunset strip with no clutch.
Otherwise? I generally like to believe that the clutch is there for a reason, and should be used. I imagine the same applies for motorcycles...otherwise we wouldn't have a clutch.
As for technique, it's really quite simple, you just have to know where on the tach the next gear is going to pick up best. It's harder to do on a bike, because you cant revmatch in neutral like you can on a car (i tried it a few times), but...you just gota get a feel for it
Last edited by Lucifer Caitiff : 08-05-2008 at 05:34 PM.
There was a thread about this in the general forum in the last week or so.
I tried this last weekend, my SV was not really a fan. I just pull the clutch about 1/3-1/2 of the way in. I used to shift without a clutch on my dirt bike when I was younger. But I figure they give us a clutch for a reason so I use it.
Clutchless Upshift
did you go to GP?
